Would you potty train before your trip to Disney?

[brat5063]

Sorry if this is a double post. I posted it once and then got an error saying the server was busy.

We are going to Disney in 3 months. My son is 2 and 4 months. He is starting to show interest in the potty. Should we potty train now or wait till we return??

I don't know what which would be easier, to lug around diapers or have him have to go potty while we are standing in line and have to hunt down a restroom.

Thanks.

 

[WDWorBUST]

Well - my dd was 25 months when we went to Disney this past December. She was starting to show readiness and actually used the potty all the way down (road trip from OK) at every rest stop - wasn't always dry but was definitely interested in the potty. We waited to really start until after vacation and unfortunately for me she lost interest. However we didn't push and just gave her incentives and positive reinforcements and I would say we have really just turned the corner. She was doing great pee-peeing but resisted poopying. Now she's consistently doing both and stays dry almost every night and naptime. (I do still have her wear her Night-night panties in case she has an accident while she's sleeping) Having 3 months to go I might give it a shot - you don't want to miss your "window" of opportunity But at the same time it might be easier to wait. We're going in September when dd will be 34 months and I'm just hoping that she doesn't struggle because of all the excitement. Good luck - it can be so trying.

 

[Annette_VA]

It's a tough decision, isn't it?

I was going to say wait until you get back, because it's hard having a *just* trained child in WDW - when they've got to go, they've got to go NOW. Doesn't matter if you're in line, watching a show, riding a ride, etc.

BUT, you've said you've got 3 months until you leave. That MAY be enough time to get him fully trained & good at figuring out when he needs to go.

Personally, I'd try to go ahead & train him and then just put him in Pull-ups in the parks, JIC.

 

[funcinderella]

Our approach with our twins is that we would keep asking them, but not push it. My daughter trained at about 3 and my son at about 3 and a half this way. They may have been a little later, but it was so easy, because by that point it was just a matter of them deciding they wanted to wear underwear, and they never had accidents from that day forward. One day diapers, next day, underwear. I didn't think diapers were that much of a pain on vacation (and certainly no worse than having to find a bathroom at an inconvenient time.)

 

[formernyer]

I wouldn't let Disney have any influence at all on the decision. Let his readiness dictate when he will train. Encourage him to the best of your ability right now, but don't be discouraged if he isn't really ready after all.

Is this your first child? I hate to sound like I'm lecturing if he isn't, so just ignore me if I'm telling you something you already know...

Boys train much slower than girls. On average, a girl is going to train sometime between age 2 and age 2.5. Boys on the other hand very rarely train younger than 2.5 and they are frequently closer to 3.5.

My daughter was showing signs of readiness at 17 months. For about a week she only wanted to use the toilet and there were very few accidents. It lasted all of a week and then she lost complete interest. She didn't show interest again until she was 22 months old, at which time she trained in 2-3 days and never had a single accident (even overnight).

My son was a different story. He didn't show any signs of readiness until he was about 28 months, but he was more interested in playing than pottying, so he never wanted to use the potty unless it was bedtime and he knew he could get to stay up longer if he sat on the potty. He didn't completely train until he was 33 months old, but when he was ready he was definitely ready...I never had a single accident from him either.

I guess what I'm saying is that kids are going to train at their own pace and I wouldn't recommend trying to speed up or delay the process in order to accommodate a trip. Always encourage them when they show interest, but understand that he might not really be ready. When I child is truly ready to train, you won't need to do any work on your end...it'll take only a matter of days once the kid is truly ready.

 

[kkevcamsmom]

I would keep encouraging him but I would not try to completely train him before the trip. My last son started showing signs at about 28 month and he's almost 4 now and has been day and night trained for only about 7 months now. We worked with him at his pace and wanting to learn, yes it took forever but I can count on one hand how many accidents he's had since he decided by himself to start wearing underpants.

Bring his pullup or diapers, keep asking him if he wants to try and go. I personally would try to find a travel potty seat like this one: http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/t...2/102-9995696-3474507?_encoding=UTF8&v=glance
That way the regular toilet seat isn't too big for him and it will be much cleaner.

Also carry a travel pack or two of the Clorox wipes... they are a mom's best friend

Good luck!!! and have fun

Lori

 

[Mom to Jordan]

Don't however just assume boys are harder to train. SOMETIMES, boys are harder but not all the time. My DS was quite easy and was totaly trained with-in a week of his second birthday. It only took about a week. We were talking at church sunday about training and it seemed that the boys in the group were trained as easly and as early as the girls. At my preschool I always have one or two boys and one or two girls but in the end it is almost always a girl that ends up being the hardest of all. I say give it a shot now. Three months is a long time. I am not a fan of pull ups. I recommend going cold turkey with underwear and just see what happens!!!!!
Good luck!!
Jordan's mom

 

[sweetpeakaris]

Since he's showing intrest, I would go ahead and potty train him now. It would be smart to put him in a pull up while at Disney. Our DD was newly potty trained and although we would go potty before we stood in a line, midway threw she would say she had to go, and some lines are not easy to get out of. Goddluck!

 

[sassymom]

I am in the same boat as you are. My DS will be 31 months when we arrive. He has recently started showing interest in the potty. I am trying to hold off on the training until after our trip. We went to Six Flags with my DD just after she learned to go and I brought along Pull Ups and she absolutely refused to go "pee pee" in her pants she wanted to go to the bathroom right away. Well, half way to our frantic run to the potty she went and was VERY VERY upset that she had an "accident". She was ashamed that she didn't make it to the bathroom, I felt awful. So I am trying to avoid this with our DS. I guess if he was insistant I would not deter him but on the other hand I'm not exactly encouraging him either. It may sound awful of me as a mother to do, but I think it will be easier all around to bring diapers and focus on the training when we get back. That is just my humble opinion, you know your child best but don't feel guilty if you push it back just a bit.

 

[brat5063]

Thanks for the responses.

He will be 31 months too when we go. I really flip flop back in forth on the subject. Our library had a potty training class that I attended last month and they said not to put your kids in underwear one day and then to put them in training pants the next day when it is convenient for the parents. They made it sound like you would confuse the child to tell them one day it is okay to go in their pants and the other days it isn't. I can kinded of see that point, but since I haven't potty trained before I just don't know.

It might sound bad, but I am not sure I am ready to potty train. It seems like it could be the hardest thing I would have ever done.

 

[pperfectmom]

Don't let yourself get overwhelmed by it. Usually when they start showing interest they are ready. But, like one poster said, my daughter was all gung ho at about 18 months and then totally lost interest when DS was born. Then right about age 2 she started going on her own with no prodding from us. I think each child is different. You can tell them and show them what to do, but they will go when ready. That said, you should be prepared for either possibility at WDW. BTW, I've never heard of a potty training class. I wonder how our parents ever survived without it. It's amazing that we're not all running around in adult diapers.

 

[beachgrl001]

Our approach with our twins is that we would keep asking them, but not push it. My daughter trained at about 3 and my son at about 3 and a half this way. They may have been a little later, but it was so easy, because by that point it was just a matter of them deciding they wanted to wear underwear, and they never had accidents from that day forward. One day diapers, next day, underwear. I didn't think diapers were that much of a pain on vacation (and certainly no worse than having to find a bathroom at an inconvenient time.)

We did the same thing it took like a week!

 

[Hannathy]

3 months is a long time I would go for it. Summer is a great time to potty train they can run around home in just underpants or at most little shorts that are easier and quicker to get off and wash. I agree stick with the underpants except in rare unusual daytime situations- like a formal wedding the second week of potty training! IMO 2 is a great age both of mine (DD&DS) were trained by 2 and my nephew who I took care of a lot was by 2 so boys aren't always harder.

 

[princessyahoo]

We've used 2 things to keep us and our 2 year 10 month DD focused: Preschool & Disney

Her preschool requires that when she returns in July, she must be completely potty trained. Knowing that, we started training her in March. She was not interested.

But then the free dining package was announced. This was our ticket! She's never been to disney, but we've brainwashed her enough that she knows what it is and she knows she wants to go.

Since the training was going no where, we told her we were going to disney for her birthday, but that "babies aren't allowed at disney, only big girls" and "babies wear diapers, but big girls wear panties". I know I have some explaining to do when we get to the park and we see babies at every turn, but it worked like a charm. She's about 90% trained and it's taken less than 6 weeks to do it.

 

[juligrl]

Sorry if this is a double post. I posted it once and then got an error saying the server was busy.

We are going to Disney in 3 months. My son is 2 and 4 months. He is starting to show interest in the potty. Should we potty train now or wait till we return??

I don't know what which would be easier, to lug around diapers or have him have to go potty while we are standing in line and have to hunt down a restroom.

Thanks.

If he's showing interest start potty training regardless of a Disney trip! You're still going to be lugging around a lot of kid stuff in Disney (change of clothes for accidents) so why not start if he's showing signs of being ready.

DD3 is stubborn as all get out on the potty training front -- we take 2 steps forward and 1 back routinely -- just go for it if he's ready.

 

[kaysmommie]

It's a tough decision, isn't it?

I was going to say wait until you get back, because it's hard having a *just* trained child in WDW - when they've got to go, they've got to go NOW. Doesn't matter if you're in line, watching a show, riding a ride, etc.

BUT, you've said you've got 3 months until you leave. That MAY be enough time to get him fully trained & good at figuring out when he needs to go.

Personally, I'd try to go ahead & train him and then just put him in Pull-ups in the parks, JIC.

I agree with this it is hard having a just potty trained child at WDW. This was true for DD when she was 2, now she is 6. My DS just turned 2, he is not interested in the potty at all. We are going in September and hopefully we will wait until we get home to potty train. I would rather lug diapers & swim diapers then have to leave the lines 100 times to take DS to the potty. Also changing clothes from accidents is not much fun either. I guess it depends on the child and how quick they train.

 

[AllyCatTapia]

I knew when I saw this thread that it would turn into a "my kid trained so quick and early he must be a freaking genius" post. I mean, don't they all on message baords?

1) He's not. Trust me.
2) It takes at least two months and sometimes closer to four for COMPLETE training. Boys aren't physically ready until 2 and then add mental and etc onto that.

Let me give the OP some advice: its ok to ask for opinions on message baords, but keep in mind that, especially in internet world, the "facts" get skewed. Make sure to talk to real people who you trust.

 

[Hannathy]

First AlleyCat Tapia do not state facts as Gospel with out back-up because in this case you are wrong. You can not make blanket statements like that without knowing all kids. My DD DID NOT take 4 months to completely train and much less than your at least 2 months! My nephew was younger than 2 and he is not a genius-but he did do a Disney internship so maybe they saw his genius.
My son was trained by 2.

Nowhere did she say her child was a genius and if he is showing interest he is ready, age appropriate to you or not. IMO people were saying to her that 3 months is a long time and not to miss the opportunity if presented for a trip so far away. as far as skewing the facts you did more fact skewing than anyone.

 

[RachaelRol]

We've used 2 things to keep us and our 2 year 10 month DD focused: Preschool & Disney

MY son was potty trained at exactly 2 1/2. He saw a Disney commercial and we told him he had to go peepee in the potty. 3 weeks later he was done, fully trained. It was awesome to not have to carry diapers.... We mader several extra bathroom trips but it was well worth it.

We tried when he was 28 months old. He hated it and we were frustrated. We dropped it, but left the potty out and kept him in pull ups only.

After the Disney promise he was ready... I think rewards work and I also think you shouldn't send mixed messages. I know folks who have started training at home, let them wear underpants, etc, then when they go out, Disney or the mall, they put the kid in the diaper. It makes it worse...

No flames to anyone, just my 2 cents...

 

[Mom to Jordan]

Yes Allycat is wrong. My DS is no genius. He was just a nice normal smart kid that "got" it really quicky. He was an easy toddler and when we put underwear on him, he just never looked back. Completly trained in a week, by his second B-day and considering he was 3 mo premature, that put him even younger so it CAN work. Now I have a friend that has a son that is a genius. Unreal IQ, read before he was two, did not potty train till after he was three year old. IT has nothing to do with how smart a child it. So many things come into play and all kids are differnt. OP. give it a shot and see what happens, if he is ready great, if not do not worry.

Jordan's mom